Collecting a GPX trace

Collecting a GPX trace

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This page demonstrates how to collect a GPX trace using the OsmAnd app on your phone.

OsmAnd (iOS and Android) is a navigation app build on OpenStreetMap that also will record GPX traces if you enable the “Trip recording” plugin.

The demonstration below uses the OsmAnd app for iOS (with some examples from an Android device when things look different).

When you first install and open the app, you’ll see a screen like this:

The first screen will ask you to download a map that corresponds with your current location. This is to allow the app to work offline (without an internet connection). You can skip downloading the map and still record GPS locations, but the app won’t show you a basemap in the background.

If your phone asks apps not to track your location by default, the app might guess the wrong map to download for your current location. In this case, you can tap “Skip Download” on the bottom left corner of the screen.

Then you can search for the map you want to download.

Once you’ve downloaded a basemap, the download button becomes a “Go to the map” button. Tap that button.

You’ll see a map of your current surroundings. On the botton right corner of the map, there will be a little crosshair icon. If you tap that, you’ll get a message asking you to give the app permission to use your location.

Choose “Allow While Using App” if you will be keeping the app open the whole time you’re collecting data. Otherwise, you want to set it to track your location all the time.

Tap the little hamburger button on the bottom left corner of the map to open up the side menu.

Tap “My places”. Select the “Tracks” icon on the bottom right and tap the banner that says, “Please activate Track recording addon to record and save your tracks.”

On an Android phone, you may need to add this plugin from the Plugin manager (find it towards the bottom of the side menu, right before settings).

On an iPhone, you’ll see a list of plugins with white checkboxes next to them.

On an Android, it will look like this:

Tap the box or icon by “Trip Recording.” It will show you a message saying you’ve added the plugin. Click OK.

Now the checkbox or icon will be highlighted in orange. Tap on “< My Tracks”.

You’ll see a banner that says “Currently recording track” with a gray save icon and a red dot. Tap the red dot.

On an Android device, the “Start Recording” button is somewhat more clearly labeled.

A dialog will pop up where, if you want, you can adjust the recording interval. By default, it will record your location every five seconds. Setting it to a shorter interval (e.g. every one second) will improve the precision of your GPS trace.

Click OK.

Now you should see a black square instead of a red circle. The app is currently recording your location. Start walking along the path you want to record. When you have finished your path, tap the black square to stop recording. Then tap the save icon.

On an Android device the start, stop, and save icons are more clearly labeled.

Tap the “Rec” folder, and you’ll see your track listed with a file name indicating the current date and time.

Tap the name of your track and it will open in a map.

Tap the share icon at the bottom of the screen and email the GPX file to yourself.

To share the file from an Android device, you’ll need to click the “Options” button on the bottom left corner of your screen.

Then click the Share item on the side menu.